Door-operating mechanism



P. H. LACEY. DOOR'OPERATING MECHANISM.

Jan. 9, 19230 4 SHEETS-SHEET l FILED Nov. 24. I919.

Jan. 9, 1923.

P. H LACEY. DooR OPERATING MECHANISM. FILED Nov. 24. 1919.

4 SHEETS'SHEET 2 Patented Jan. 9, I23.

time t PAUL I-I. LACEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PEERLESS DOOR CONTROL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed November 24, 1919. Serial No. 340,390.

To all whom. it may concern.

Be it known that I. PAUL H. Lac-Er, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Door-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying draw- 'ings, forminga part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in power operated doors, and is designed to meet the requirements for a compact door operating mechanism, and semi-automatic driving means therefor. The invention is particularly adapted for association with the well known rolling shutter door which type of door is, at the present time to a large degree, operated manually, owing to the lack of an economical, commercially practicable driving mechanism having been developed.

Numerous devices have been offered to meet the demand, but have not commercially been a success owing to the failure in most casesto observe the requirements of city fire ordinances, and of the fire underwriters, without involving a complicated structure expensive to install and prohibitive in cost of upkeep. 7

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to produce an improvement in power operated doors which is compact, economical in use, cheap. to install, semiautomatic, and wholly safe and within the requirements of the underwriters and of the fire ordinances. Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character referred to in which the power may be disconnected to permit the door to close-- automatically in case of fire or similar emergency, or to permit the door to be operated manually in the event of failure of the power. These features are important ones and are included in almost all requirements of city fire ordinances and of the fire underwriters.

Another object of my invention is accomplished in the provision of the semi-automatic feature of the device, the motor being automatically cut off when the door reaches either end of its travel. The arrangement is such that the door can be run in either direction from any point between its limits of movement, a property of the invention which is important, particularly in the event that, while the door is being opened it becomes imperative to close it immediately, as in case of fire. motor upon the door reaching either end of its travel is accomplishedby means of limit switches actuated by a properly timed traveling cam. Of course, any other suitable means might be employed for cutting off the motor, but I have found the means which I shall describe hereinafter as being of cheap construction, accurate and durable. 'Io disconnect the motor from the door I provide a novel clutch mechanism manually operable from any point of convenience.

Another object of my invention accomplished by the novel arrangement of gearing employed, is that of logking the door against retrograde movement. For instance, if the door is raised partly and the motor will not drop into closed position, which might injure some one who had started to pass through the same, but will be looked in whatever position the same happened to be when the power was turned off. This is a very important feature of the device, and while the function might be accomplished in many ways, I have found the form shown and described hereinafter to be cheaper and more effective, eliminating many parts which in other forms might be necessary.

As pointed out hereinbefore, means for disconnecting the motor from the ratio gearing when it is desired to leave the door ready for emergency operation, has been provided. In some installations, however. I have found it has been impracticable to keep some person responsible for the placing of the door out of gear at night or at other ously with the deenergization of the motor so as to automatically disconnect the latter from the gearing. Of course, I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction, as it will be'appa-rent that mechanical or other means might as readily be employed.

Other and more specific objects of my in- The disconnection of the vention will appear from the following description and the appended claims, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, n which:

Figure 1 is-an elevation of a door and driving mechanism embodying the improve ments in my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the drivin unit; I

igure 3 is a top plan of the same;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 IS a detail perspective View of the time switch cam, and

F i ure 6 is a vertical reduced section view showing a modified form of my invention.

Referring more articularly to the drawings, in Figure 1% have shown a door 10 assembled with my invention, the door being constructed of a plurality of hinged sections adapted to roll upon a drum 11 carried in bearings 12 and surrounded by a casing 13. The casing 13 has an opening 14 in its bottom side to permit passage of the free end of the door therethrough. The edges of the door slide in channels 15 mounted on x 17 extending from the casing 13 and'having the door frame, and the free end of the door is provided with a tray or channel member 16 for limiting the upward movement of the door and for another purpose which will appear later.

The drum 11 is provided with a stub shaft 7 carried on a shaft 25 mounted in bearings 26, a sprocket wheel 27 being carried on said shaft and provided with a chain 28, the lower loop thereof extending down to a point convenient to the. operator. Thus, in manual operations of the door, by pulling .on one or the other side of the continuous chain 28, the sprocket wheel 27 is rotated, lmpartlng motion to the reduction gear 23,

thence to the driving gears 18.

The door may be provided with any approved means for automatically closing the same in case of fire, such as the weight 29 suspended normally on pins 30 carried by a tumbler shaft 31. The shaft is mounted in suitable bearings back of the casing of the door and beneath the drum, said shaft having a lever 32 carried on one free end thereof. The lever 32 engages one arm of a bell crank lever 33, said lever 33 normally holdmg said arm in the position shown in Fig ure by means of a wire 34 having a fusible link 35 therein, the opposite end of the wire being connected to a rigid arm 6, Said wall by means of 16, causing the door to fall into closed The structure described in the position. foregoing is common in the art and forms no essential part of my invention. My invention resides particularly in the power unit and power transmission mechanism shown in the Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, said power unit being geared to one of the driving gears 18 as will be pointed out in detail hereinafter.

Referring now specifically to the device of my invention, I provide a supporting frame comprising-a base plate- 38, preferably cast with the necessary supports and bearings integral therewith as described in detail later. The base late 38 is secured to a olts 39,'or the like, adjacent one upper corner of the door, preferably above and to the right as shown in Figure 2. The driving unit is provided with a cover 38' as shown in Figure 1.

i The prime mover of the device, preferably is an electric motor 40 secured. by bolts or the like 41, to a shelf 42 cast integrally with the base plate 38 and strengthened by means of webs 43.

The motor is provided with a shaft 44 on which is mounted a pinion 45, sa'id pinion meshing with a gear 46 carried by a counter shaft 47 mounted in suitable bearings 48, the latter being cast integrally with thebase plate 38. The base plate 38 is providedwith a slot 49 to accommodate the gear46.

Mounted on the shaft 47 and rotating therewith, I provide a worm 50, this worm meshing with the worm gear 51 mounted upon and driving the clutch shaft 52. The shaft 52 is mounted in suitable bearings 53 and 54 also preferably cast integrally with" the bearing members 48 by means of arms 55-55. The worm gear 51 is connected to the shaft 52 ,by-mea-ns of a pin 56, said gear preventing downward. movement of the shaft in its bearings by abutting the bearing 53, and a collar 57 carried by the free end of the shaft being engaged under the bearing 54 to prevent upward movement of the shaft. It is essential that this shaft be maintained against endwise movement for an obvious reason. Suitable anti-friction thrust bearings 58 and 59 are arranged between the bearings 48 and the adjacent ends of the worm 50.

A driving shaft 60 is mounted in asuitable bearing 61, the latter being strengthened by webs 62 and cast integrally with the base plate 38. The outer free end of the shaft 60 carries a driving gear 62 which meshes with one of the driving gears 18 referred to hereinbefore. Motion is imparted to the shaft 60 from the clutch shaft 52 by means of a pair of intermeshing bevel menses gears 63 and 64, the former being carried by the clutch shaft and the latter by said shaft 60. A suitable pin 65 serves to connect the bevel gear 64: to the driving shaft 60. The bevel gear 63 rotates freely on the clutch shaft 52.

In order to control the delivery of power from the clutch shaft to the drive shaft 60 I provide a suitable clutch element composed of a driving part 67 and a driven part 68, the latter being carried by and preferably cast integrally with the bevel gear 63. The respective sections of the clutch element are provided with teeth adapted to interlock. The driving section 67 of the clutch is provided with an annular groove 67', and is keyed as at 69 and slidably mounted on to said shaft 52. A coiled spring 70 interposed between the clutch portion 67 and the bearing 54, serves to maintain the clutch normally in engagement With the bevel gear 63 to drive the same.

I provide means for disengaging the clutch section to disconnect the clutch shaft from the bevel gear 63, this means preferably comprising a lever 71 fulcrumed at 72 to a lug 7 3 cast integrally with the base plate 38 andbending outwardly past the clutch section 67. The free end of the lever 71 carries a chain 74 which is disposed ata point convenient to the operator. The lever 71 carries a yoke 75 shown partly in section in Figure 2 and in dotted lines in Figures 3 and 4, this yoke embracing the clutch section 67 and being connected to the lever by means of rivets or the like 7 6. A pair of lugs are carried by the lever and by the yoke and preferably take the form of screws 77 and 78, the heads of the screws being arranged at points approximately diametrically opposite each other relative the clutch section 67 and arranged within the groove or channel 67 in said section. The screw 77 is retained by means of a nut 79 and the screw 78 may have the outer end ups t or riveted. At least one of the screws s iould be removable in order to permit as sembly and disassembly of the device. From the foregoing description it will be seen that by a'downward pull-on the chain 7 1 the lever 71 Will act, through the lugs 77 and 78, to disengage the clutch section 67 from the section 68 and thereby disconnect the motor from the driving shaft 60. This permits operation of the door manually by means of the chain 28.

A suitable electric circuit is provided for controlling the motor so as to operate the same in either direction as desired, and in order to limit the motor at each end of the travel of the door I provide limit switches, and means timed to actuate said switches and open the motor circuit. This means preferably comprises a limit switch shaft 81 mounted in suitable bearings 82 and 83.

Motion is imparted to the shaft by means of a gear 84 carried by the drive shaft 60 and meshing with a pinion 85 carried by said limit switch shaft 81. The pinion 85 prevents endwise movement of the shaft to the left and a collar 86 carried by the shaft 81 and abutting the bearing 83 prevents endwise movement of said shaft in the opposite direction. The shaft is provided with a spiral groove 87 cut so as to impart movement to the switch actuating cam or block 88 longitudinally upon the shaft. The spiral groove is also cut so that the arrival of the cam 88 at either end of the shaft 81 will be timed with the arrival of the door at its open or closed position. The

cam 88 is provided with a bolt 89 having a locking nut 90 thereon, the inner 'end of the bolt projecting into the groove 87 in the shaft 81, so that upon rotation of the shaft the cam 88will be moved therebn. In order to prevent tumbling of the cam 88 the same is provided with a tongue 91 which extends into a groove 92 formed in a raised portion 93 of the base plate 38, as best shown in Figure 4. In this figure the cam has been shown in dotted lines as the section taken on Figure 2 cuts the same out of the view.

The limit. switches in the present form of my invention are arranged in pairs and are designated 94 and 95, the same having pivotedarms 96 and 97, respectively, carrying rollers 98 and 99 on their free ends. Coiled springs 100 and 101 tend to maintain the switch arm 96 in the path of movement of the cam 88. The rollers 98 and 99 are preferably constructed of insulating material. The structure of the switch employed forms no part of my invention and the details thereof will therefore not be described. It

depressed position the switch is open and in the raised position the switch is closed.

In installing my invention it is preferable that a pair of push button switches be embe employed. In operation,assuming that the door is in the closed position, the button to open the door is pressed. This supplies current through the suitable circuit referred to, energizing the motor and causing motion to be imparted therefrom to the counter shaft 47, thence through the worm 50 and worm gear 51 to the clutch shaft 52. Assuming that the clutch isin the engaged position, motion is imparted to the bevel gears 63 and 64 and to the shaft 60, thence to the gear 62 and to one of the driving gears 18, thereby 'opening the door. Motion is also simultaneously imparted to the limit switch shaft 81, causing the cam 88 to travel along the shaft until the same contacts with the roller .will, of course, be understood that in the 98 carried on the limit switch arm 96, depressing said arm and opening the circuit to the motor. At this time the door is in the open position. To close the door the other button is pressed, causing the motor to rotate in the opposite direction to close the door and returning the cam 88 along the shaft 81 to engage and open the limit switch 95. Assuming that the door is left open at night, the clutch is disengaged from the bevel gear 63 by a downward pull on the chain 74. In the event that a fire should occur the automatic release means of the door is actuated by virtue of the fusible link 35 melting and releasing the wire 34. This permits the bell crank. lever 33 to swing and drop the lever 32. The lever 32 carried by the shaft 31 imparts rotative motion to the shaft, disengaging the pins 30 from the weight and permitting the same to drop upon the tray or channel member 16. The weight dropping on said channel is sufficient to cause the door to drop to the closed position. Should the door be part way opened and it becomes imperative to close the same, this may be accomplished by manually opening the clutch, whereupon the .door will be disconnected from the driving mechanism and lowered by the weight in the channel, or manually, into closed position. The position of the worm and worm gear connections between the counter shaft and the clutch shaft afiords an even drive to the clutch shaft and also prevents the weight of the door, acting upon the clutch shaft through the train of gears, from causing the door to drop, should the same be stopped midway between its limits of travel. This enables the operator of the door to raise or lower the door at any points in its path of travel without waiting for the door to close or open. The

free end of the chain 74 is disposed adjacent a pin 105, this free end of the chain having a ring therein to engage said pin in order to maintain the clutch in open position. Of course, any other suitable means might be employed for performing this function.

Referring now to the modified form of clutch throwing mechanism illustrated in Figure 6, the clutch shaft is designated 52, as in the other figures of the drawing. The same is true of the'bearings 53, bevel gears 63 and 64, and clutch sections 67 and 68. The lever 71 and its connecting element 79 to the clutch section 67 is practically identical with the first form of the invention described. However, in this form of the invention the free end of the lever 71 is connected by means of a link 107 to the armature 108 of a solenoid 109, the solenoid having conductors 110 which serve to connect the same in the motor circuit, so that the solenoid will be simultaneously energized with the motor. The solenoid is Supported on an arm 111 extending laterally from the bearing 53. A light coiled spring 112 is connected to the clutch arm 71 and to the support 54 to normally maintain the clutch out of engagement as shown. The spring 112 is of relatively light material as the clutch section 67 is of itself sufiicient in weight to automatically drop.- However, in case of sticking thecoiled spring 112 serves to make more positive the action of the clutch. WVhen in the disengaged position the clutch rests upon a collar 113 carried by the clutch shaft, the collar 57 described hereinbefore serving to prevent upward movement of the clutch shaft. Thus it will be seen that normally the clutch is disengaged and the motor disconnected -from the driving gearing, but when the motor is started the electro magnet 109 is energized throwing the clutch into engaged position. As hereinbefore referred to the motor is arranged in a circuit having Suitable relays and it is to both of these relays that the electromagnet is connected, so that the same is operable when the door reaches either end of its travel and the motor is stopped.

It will be readily apparent that by changing the ratio of gearing of the driving unit of my invention the same may be adapted to various styles of doors, and may be designed to accommodate different styles of gearing employed on the door.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention it will be readily apparent that various mechanical modifications may be made therein when adapting the device to different styles and sizes of doors, and therefore I reserve the right to make such changes as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a movable door, a power transmis Sion for moving said door, a manually actuated transmission for moving said door, means for automatically closing said door, said manually actuated means and said automatic means being operative only when said power transmission is disconnected, and means for disconnecting said power transmission.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a movable door a source of power, a power transmission between said source of power and said door, disconnecting means interposed in said power transmission, manual actuating means engaging elements of said transmission between said door and said disconnecting means for manual control of said door when said power transmission is disconnected, and conreaches a predetermined position regardless of whether said power transmission is connected to or disconnected from said source of power.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a movable door, a source of 7 power. a transmission from said source of power to said movable door including transmission elements having a locking action, a reversible manually actuated transmission for moving said door connected to an element of said power transmission between said locking transmission elements and said door, and means for disconnecting said power transmission between said locking elements and said'manual transmission to permit manual actuation of said door.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a movable door, a source of power, a transmissionfrom saidsource of power to said door including elements having a locking action, an automatic emergency device operating by gravity to close said door, and means for disconnecting said transmission between said door and said locking elements, to render said automatic emer ency device operative.

' 5. n a device of the class described, in combination, a movable door, a source of power, a transmission from said source of power to said door, disconnecting means interposed in said transmission, and power control means connected to said transmission at a point between the disconnecting means and said door, whereby functioning of said power control means will depend on the position of said door, regardless of whether the source of power is connected to said door or not.

transmission.

7 In a device of the class described, in'

combination, a roll up door, a shaft for rolling up said door, a. manually actuated transmission continuously connected to said shaft, an automatic power control device continuously connected to said shaft, a power ti-ansmission normally connected to said shaft, a source of power for said power transmission controlled by said power controlled device, and means for disconnecting said source of power from said shaft without disconnecting said control device.

8. The combination with a roll-up door having gearing, manual operating means and automatic closing means, of a power transmission unit comprising a motor and 'drive shaft, means forming a connection be and an automatic closing means, of a powertransmission unit comprising a motor, control means therefor, a countershaft and clutch shaft, gearing interconnecting the motor and said shaft to lock the door in any position, a drive shaft and a driving connection to said clutch shaft, a clutch in said clutch shaft, a control shaft driven by said drive shaft, and means on said control shaft to actuate said motor control means.

10. The combination with a door having gearing, of a. power unit having drive gearing connected to said door gearing, said drive gearing locking the door at any point in its path of movement, and automatic means for disconnecting said driving gearing when the door reaches either limit of its movement.

11. A door having drive gearing, reduction gearing, a motor connectable through said reduction gearings to said drive gearings, a shaft, a clutch on the shaft, and means for automatically engaging the clutch just prior to the energization of the motor.

12. A roll-up door having drive gearing, a motor connectable to said drive gearing, a shaft forming said connection, a clutch in said shaft, and means for automatically engaging the motor with said drive gearing through said clutch and clutch shaft just prior to the energization of the motor.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of November 1919.

PAUL H. LAOEY. 

